Disconnect switch



1956 K. HALLER DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed June 17, 1954 United States Patent DISCONNECT SWITCH Karl Haller, Kassel-Oberzwehren, Germany, assignor to Llcentia Patent-Verwaltungs G. m. b. H., Hamburg, Germany Application June 17, 1954, Serial No. 437,397 Claims priority, application Germany June 17, 1953 Claims. (Cl. 200-48) The present invention relates to disconnect switches.

More particularly, the present invention relates to disconnect switches used with high voltage power lines.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a disconnect switch which will reliably move to a closed position even when the power line is swinging in stormy weather.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disconnect switch which will assure proper closing and opening of the switch even if the line is iced up considerably.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a disconnect switch which includes an extremely simple structure for moving the switch to its closed and open positions.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a disconnect switch with a means which automatically locks the same in its closed position.

With the above object in view the present invention mainly consists of a disconnect switch which includes an elongated frame and a first pair of contacts carried by the frame in spaced relation to each other. A second pair of electrically connected contacts are located adjacent the frame in the closed position of the switch and have an inoperative position respectively spaced from the first pair of contacts and the frame corresponding to the required air insulation. A moving means is operatively connected to the second pair of contacts for urging the latter toward the frame and for moving the second pair of contacts away from each other and along the frame respectively into engagement with the first pair of contacts for closing the switch. Also, a lock means is connected to the second pair of contacts for locking the latter in their closed position, and a spring means is connected to the second pair of contacts for urging the latter toward each other in the open position of the switch.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together wit-h additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a switch constructed in accordance with the present invention, part of Fig. 1 being shown in section to illustrate all of the structure of the switch and some of the parts of Fig. 1 being fragmentarily illustrated;

Fig. 2 shows the switch of Fig. 1 in its closed position;

Fig. 3 is a plan, partly sectional view of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional view of the switch in closed position as seen from beneath the same.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the switch of the invention includes a moving member 1 fixed to a bar 2 so that the latter moves with the member 1, the latter being connected to electrically con- 'ice ductive links or the like actuated by any suitable known mechan1sm for moving the members 1 and 2 up and down, as v1ewed in Figs. 1 and 2. A tubular member 3 is slidably mounted on the top free end portion of the bar 2, and a coil spring 4 is located about the bar 2 between the tubular member 3 and the moving member 1 for urging these members apart from each other to the position shown in Fig. l. The bar 2 is formed at opposite outer surface portions thereof respectively with a pair of elongated grooves 5 extending into the tubular member 3, and a pair of pins are fixed to the tubular member 3 adjacent the bottom end thereof and respectively extend into the grooves 5 to limit movement of members 2 and 3 with respect to each other and to prevent the tubular member 3 from turning about the bar 2.

The tubular member 3 is formed in opposed wall portions thereof with a pair of elongated cut outs in which a pair of bell cranks 1i and 11 are turnably mounted on the tubular member 3 at equal distances from the bottom end of the tubular member 3, as is apparent from the drawings, these bell cranks respectively having shorter arms respectively located in the cut outs of tubular member 3 and respectively being shorter than these cut outs.

Above the bell cranks there is located an elongated electrical conductor 12 having connected thereto a lower elongated frame 16 along which the contacts 6 and 7 move in a manner described below. Thus, the tubular member 3 is capable of moving from the position of Fig. l beneath the frame 16 upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2. The frame 16 is removably connected by a pair of clips fixed to and extending upwardly therefrom to any desired part of the conductor 12 these clips each comprising a pair of members urged together at their top ends by a screw, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower frame portion 16 is formed in its bottom surface with a pair of cut outs into which the contacts 14 and 15 extend. Furthermore, springs 17 are respec tively mounted in the opposite free end portions of frame portion 16 and engage contacts 14 and 15, respectively, to urge these contacts toward each other. As is apparent from Fig. 1 the contacts 6 and 7 are located just beneath the frame portion 16 and in the open position of the switch much closer together than the distance between the contacts 14 and 15.

In the particular example illustrated, the parts i and 2. consist of an electrically conductive material as well as the frame 16. On the other hand, the bell crank levers 10 and 11 are also made of an electrically conductive material so that when the contacts 7 and 6 respectively engage the contacts 14 and 15, as shown in Fig. 2, current will be carried by the flexible leads shown in the drawings to the links pivoted to part 1.

The operation of the above described structure is believed to be evident. When the moving member 1 is moved upwardly toward the line 12, the contacts 6 and 7 engage and move along the frame, which, if required, may be provided with any suitable guides for the members 6 and 7, so that the bell cranks 1t} and 11 respectively turn in counterclockwise and clockwise directions on the tubular member 3 and the contacts 6 and 7 move into engagement with the contacts 14 and i5, respectively. It will be noted that the weight of the line 12 limits the upward movement of the contacts 6 and 7 and causes the spring 4 to become compressed, thus moving the tubular member 3 onto the bar 2. Furthermore, it will be noted that the top end portion of the bar 2 engages the shorter arms of hell cranks 1i and 11 and not only turns these arms away from each other, but in addition, in the position of Fig. 2, prevents movement of the bell cranks toward each other so that the shorter arms of the bell cranks 10 and cooperate with the bar 2 to form a means for automatically locking the switch in the closed position shown in Fig. 2. In the finally closed position of the switch, the springs 17 are compressed to provide a good contact between contacts 6 and 14 on the one hand, and contacts 7 and 1.5 on the other hand. This good contact is further enhanced by the fact that the portions of contacts 14 and which engage contacts 6 and 7, respectively, are curved to correspond to the curvature of contacts 6 and 7 and thereby increase the area of contact. It should be noted, that instead of resiliently urging the contacts and 1.3 ward each other with the spring 17, these contacts can be fixed to the frame 16, and instead the contacts 6 and 7 may be resiliently mounted on the arms of the bell cranks which carry them, respectively.

With high voltage lines where each phase is provided with at least two conductors so that four contacts are mounted on the frame rather than two contacts M and 15, a particularly good closing of the switch may be provided. The contact pressure is particularly strong when the contacts on the bell cranks are far from each other in the end positions illustrated in Fig. 2, and in such installations the long lever arms provide strong forces when the switch is opened, and these forces are sufiicient to break up any ice which forms on the switch without any difficulty.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated the form of the contacts 6 and 7. The contacts 6 and 7 are carried by electrically conductively frame-works, respectively, each of which forms an arm of a bell crank. These bell cranks 10 and 11 have shorter arms located in cut outs of the tubular member 3, these shorter arms being freely movable in the cut outs through the desired angular range. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the shorter arms of the bell cranks are fixed to pivot pins 13 which extend through bores of tubular member 3 and which have arms fixed to their outer free ends, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3. Springs 8 and 9 are connected to these arms to urge the contacts 6 and 7 toward each other. A bar 2 identical with that of Figs. 1 and 2 may be used in the embodiment of Fig. 3, and cooperates in the same way with the shorter arms of the bell cranks 10 and 11. Springs 8 and 9 are also provided with the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 to urge the bell cranks to the open position.

It will be understood that a pair of countercontacts engage the other free end portions of contact 6 while a second pair of countercontacts engage the outer free end portions of the contact 7. The countercontacts engaging the contacts 6 and 7 are respectively connected electrically to two high voltage conductors carrying one phase of current.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of disconnect switches differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in disconnect switches for high voltage lines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination, an elongated frame; means fixed to said frame for removably suspending the same from any desired part of an electrical conductor; a first pair of contacts carried by said frame in spaced relation to each other; a second pair of electrically-connected contacts located adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and having an inoperative position respectively spaced from said first pair of contacts and the frame to the required air insulation; moving means operatively connected to said second pair of contacts for urging the latter toward said frame causing upon'abutment against said frame moving of said second pair of contacts away from each other and along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch; and lock means connected to said second pair of contacts and engaging said moving means for locking said second pair of contacts in their position in engagement with said first pair of contacts, respectively.

2. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination, an elongated frame; means fixed to said frame for removably suspending the same from any desired part of an electrical conductor; a first pair of contacts carried by said frame in spaced relation to each other; a second pair of electrically-connected contacts located adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and having an inoperative position respectively spaced from said first pair of contacts and the frame to the required air insulation; moving means operatively connected to said second pair of contacts for urging the latter toward said frame causing upon abutment against said frame moving of said second pair of contacts away from each other and along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch; and spring means operatively connected to said second pair of contacts for urging the same toward each other and respectively away from said first pair of contacts.

3. In a disconnect switch, in combination, a tubular member formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of elongated parallel cutouts, respectively; a pair of hell cranks pivotally mounted on said tubular member in said cutouts thereof at substantially equal distances from one end of said tubular member, respectively, and each having an arm shorter than said cutouts and movable therethrough, said bell cranks each carrying a contact at an end distant from said tubular member; and an elongated bar slidable within said tubular member for engaging said arms of said bell cranks to turn the latter away from each other.

4. In a disconnect switch, in combination, a tubular electrically conductive member formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of electrically conductive bell cranks pivotally mounted on said tubular member in said cutouts thereof at substantially equal distances from one end of said tubular member, respectively, and each having an arm shorter than said cutouts and movable therethrough, said bell cranks each carrying a contact at an end distant from said tubular member; and an elongated electrically non-conductive bar slidable within said tubular member for engaging said arms of said bell cranks to turn the latter away from each other.

5. In a disconnect switch, in combination, a tubular member formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of elongated parallel cutouts, respectively; a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on said tubular member in said cutouts thereof at substantially equal distances from one end of said tubular member, respectively, and each having an arm shorter than said cutouts and movable therethrough, said bell cranks each carrying a con tact at an end distant from said tubular member; an elongated bar slidable within said tubular member for engaging said arms of said bell cranks to turn the latter away from each other, said bar being formed with a groove extending into said tubular member; a pin fixed to said tubular member and extending into said groove to limit movement of said bar and tubular member with respect to each other and to prevent turning of said tubular member on said bar; a moving member fixed to said bar for moving the latter into said tubular member; and

3 a spring extending between said moving member and tubular member for urging the latter along said bar away from said moving member.

6. In a disconnect switch, in combination, a tubular member formed in a pair of opposed Wall portions with a pair of elongated parallel cutouts, respectively; a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on said tubular member in said cutouts thereof at substantially equal distances from one end of said tubular member, respectively, and each having an arm shorter than said cutouts and movable therethrough, said bell cranks each carrying a contact at an end distant from said tubular member; an elongated bar slidable within said tubular member for engaging said arms of said bell cranks to turn the latter away from each other, said bar being formed with a groove extending into said tubular member; a pin fixed to said tubular member and extending into said groove to limit movement of said bar and tubular member with respect to each other and to prevent turning of said tubular member on said bar; a moving member fixed to said bar for moving the latter into said tubular member; a spring extending between said moving member and tubular member for urging the latter along said bar away from said moving member; and spring means operatively connected to said bell cranks for urging said arms thereof toward each other.

7. In a disconnect switch, in combination, a tubular member formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of elongated parallel cutouts, respectively; a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on said tubular member in said cutouts thereof at substantially equal distances from one end of said tubular member, respectively, and each having an arm shorter than said cutouts and movable therethrough, said bell cranks each carrying a contact at an end distant from said tubular member; an elongated bar slidable within said tubular member for engaging said arms of said bell cranks to turn the latter away from each other; a moving member fixed to said bar for moving the latter into said tubular member; and a spring extending between said moving member and tubular member for urging the latter along said bar away from said moving member.

8. In a disconnect switch, in combination, a tubular member formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of elongated parallel cutouts, respectively; a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on said tubular member in said cutouts thereof at substantially equal distances from one end of said tubular member, respectively, and each having an arm shorter than said cutouts and movable therethrough, said bell cranks each carrying a contact at an end distant from said tubular member; an elongated bar slidable within said tubular member for engaging said arms of said bell cranks to turn the latter away from each other; a moving member fixed to said bar for moving the latter into said tubular member; a spring extending between said moving member and tubular member for urging the latter along said bar away from said moving member; and spring means operatively connected to said bell cranks for urging said arms thereof toward each other.

9. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination, an elongated electrically non-conductive frame; a first pair of contacts carried by a lower portion of said frame in spaced relation to each other, extending downwardly from said frame; a tubular member located adjacent said frame and being formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of parallel cutouts; a pair of electrically conductive bell cranks pivotally mounted in said cutouts, respectively, at equal distances from one end of said tubular member, said bell cranks having distant from said tubular member free ends respectively located beneath and adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and respectively directed toward said first pair of contacts and spaced from the latter and said frame to provide the required air insulation and said bell cranks having arms shorter than said cutouts respectively extending into the same; and a bar extending upwardly into said tubular member and being slidable within the latter so that when said bar is moved upwardly said arms of said bell cranks are engaged by said bar to be moved away from each other for moving said free ends of said bell cranks along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch.

10. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination, an elongated frame; a first pair of contacts carried by a lower portion of said frame in spaced relation to each other, extending downwardly from said frame; a tubular member located adjacent said frame and being formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of parallel cutouts; a pair of electrically conductive bell cranks pivotally mounted in said cutouts, respectively, at equal distances from one end of said tubular member, said bell cranks having distant from said tubular member free ends respectively located beneath and adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and respectively directed toward said first pair of contacts and spaced from the latter and said frame to provide the required air insulation and said bell cranks having arms shorter than said cutouts respectively extending into the same; a bar extending upwardly into said tubular member and being slidable within the latter so that when said bar is moved upwardly said arms of said bell cranks are engaged by said bar to be moved away from each other for moving said free ends of said bell cranks along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch; a moving member fixed to said bar for moving the latter into said tubular member and located beneath the latter; and a spring extending between said tubular member and moving member for urging said tubular member along said bar away from said moving member.

11. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination,

an elongated frame; a first pair of contacts carried by a lower portion of said frame in spaced relation to each other, extending downwardly from said frame; a tubular member located adjacent said frame and being formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of parallel cutouts; a pair of electrically conductive bell cranks pivotally mounted in said cutouts, respectively, at equal distances from one end of said tubular member, said bell cranks having distant from said tubular member free ends respectively located beneath and adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and respectively directed toward said first pair of contacts and spaced from the latter and said frame to provide the required air insulation and said bell cranks having arms shorter than said cutouts respectively extending into the same; a bar ex tending upwardly into said tubular member and being slidable within the latter so that when said bar is moved upwardly said arms of said bell cranks are engaged by said bar to be moved away from each other for moving said free ends of said bell cranks along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch; and spring means operatively connected to said bell cranks for urging said arms thereof toward each other.

12. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination, an elongated frame; a first pair of contacts carried by a lower portion of said frame in spaced relation to each other, extending downwardly from said frame; a tubular member located adjacent said frame and being formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of parallel cutouts; a pair of electrically conductive bell cranks pivotally mounted in said cutouts, respectively, at equal distances from one end of said tubular member, said bell cranks having distant from said tubular member free ends respectively located beneath and adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and respectively directed toward said first pair of contacts and spaced from the latter and said frame to provide the required air insulation and said bell cranks having arms shorter than said cutouts'respectively extending into the same; a bar extending upwardlyinto said tubular member and being slidable Within th'elatter so that when said bar is moved upwardly said arms of said bell cranks are engaged by said bar to be moved away from each other for moving said free ends of said bell cranks along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch; a moving member fixed to said bar for moving the latter into said tubular member and located beneath the latter; a spring extending between said tubular member and moving member for urging said tubular member along said bar away from said moving member; and spring means operatively connected to said bell cranks for urging said arms thereof toward each other.

13. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination, an elongated frame; a first pair of contacts carried by a lower portion of said frame in spaced relation to each other, extending downwardly from said frame; a tubular member located adjacent said frame and being formed in a pair of opposed wall portions with a pair of parallel cutouts; a pair of electrically conductive bell cranks pivotally mounted in said cutouts, respectively, at equal distances from one end of said tubular member, said bell cranks having distant from said tubular member free ends respectively located beneath and adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and respectively directed toward said first pair of contacts and spaced from the latter and said frame to provide the required air insulation and said bell cranks having arms shorter than said cutouts respectively extending into the same; and a bar extending upwardly into said tubular member and being slidable within the latter so that when said bar is moved upwardly said arms of said bell cranks are engaged by said bar to be moved away from each other for moving said free ends of said bell cranks along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch, said bar being formed with a groove extending into said tubular member; and a pin fixed to said tubular member and extending into said groove for limiting the movement of said tubular member and bar with respect to each other.

14. A disconnect switch comprising, in combination, a frame; means fixed to said frame for removably suspending the same from any desired part of an electrical conductor; a first pair of contacts carried by said frame in spaced relation to each other; a second pair of electrically connected contacts located adjacent said frame in the closed position of the switch and having an inoperative position respectively spaced from said first pair of contacts and the frame to the required air insulation; and moving means operatively connected to said second pair of contacts for urging the latter toward said frame causing upon abutment against said frame moving of said second pair of contacts away from each other and along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch.

15. A disconnectswitch comprising, in combination, a frame; a pair of clip means fixed to a top side of said frame and extending upwardly therefrom for removably suspending said frame from any desired part of an electrical conductor; a first pair of contacts carried by said frame in spaced relation to each other; a second pair of electrically connected contacts located adjacent said frame in the close position of the switch and having an inoperative position respectively spaced from said first pair of contacts and the frame to the required air insulation; and moving means operatively connected to said second pair of contacts for urging the latter toward said frame causing upon abutment against said frame moving of said second pair of contacts away from each other and along said frame respectively into engagement with said first pair of contacts for closing the switch.

Graves et al Dec. 16, 1924 Graves et a1 Dec. 16, 1924 

